Originally Posted by northerner

Might not be the right forum, but I know there's a few divers out there amongst the BE community....

We're newish divers off to Sydney (hopefully) in a couple of months and are slowly building up our kit. We've decided we now want to go the whole hog and get full kit for both of us as we know we're hooked and will be diving regularly in Oz. Also would be a complete waste not to go to the dive show in October and get it all there...

So has anybody got any recommendations?? We've already got wetsuits, masks and booties so will need;

• Computers
• BCs
• regs/octopus
• Fins

Being beginners we don't need a £400 BC etc. but also don't want cheap stuff which we will regret buying in a 6 months time. No idea about BC's, regs etc (except that Mares has been recommended), top of the list for computers are Suunto Gekko or Vyper.

Any advice or recommendations gratefully received so I can direct the credit card in the right direction at the show....

Graham

Originally Posted by Crazy Diamond

Hi, just wondering, is it easy to hire all the gear for diving out there instead of buying it? We are all qualified divers (me, OH and 2 kids 11 & 12) we got qualifed earlier this year as the children can't dive unqualified in Australia until they are 14/15ish. Obviously they are still growing so buying a complete kit for them could be more of a waste of money.

What would you recommend? BTW we are heading to Brisbane October, any good dive sites round there?

Cheers

Originally Posted by 232Bar

Yes you can hire it but (IMO) you can't beat using your own. Kids can dive at 12 years old in QLD. Some good sites off Brisbane and plenty of dive shops/clubs.

Originally Posted by Crazy Diamond

Hi, just wondering, is it easy to hire all the gear for diving out there instead of buying it? We are all qualified divers (me, OH and 2 kids 11 & 12) we got qualifed earlier this year as the children can't dive unqualified in Australia until they are 14/15ish. Obviously they are still growing so buying a complete kit for them could be more of a waste of money.

What would you recommend? BTW we are heading to Brisbane October, any good dive sites round there?

Cheers

Originally Posted by coolie

If you realy enjoy diving, why not buy your gear. Just think of all the other people who have used the gear you will be hiring!!! Not everyone has a strong bladder!

I would say to avoid the dive show. Regardless of the special deals, most of the exhibitors are quite pricy. I was going to buy a new BCD at last years show. The cheapest I could find it there was £400. I got it from a shop in germany via the internet for half the price and it was delivered within two days. My advice, check out the gear that you want, then go home and research the internet. Most of the larger exhibitors still offer their show prices for a week or so after the show.

Try:
www.diveshopper.com
www.ts-heinemann.com good
www.megadivestore.com good and cheap
www.watersportswarehouse.co.uk
www.deepbluedive.co.uk good

For god sake, dont get carried away at the show! It's good for one thing, finding what you want and seeing which size you need to order. It's also good for picking up the smaller nick-nacks.
Be prepared for a lot of sales pitches from people who only want your money.
They will pick up on the fact that you are there to spend a lot of money, and they'll want you to spend it with them!!

Happy diving and shopping!

Originally Posted by Buzzy--Bee

My 2 cents - fly via the US and buy all your gear there. If you stopover in LA the shop to go to is in Irvine - www.scuba.com. This will be cheaper than the UK or Oz. While you're in LA you can dive Catalina island which IMHO is one of the best dive sites in the world.



Buzzy

Originally Posted by 232Bar

What?? - Better than capernwray? Surely not!!!

Originally Posted by 232Bar

What?? - Better than capernwray? Surely not!!!

Originally Posted by steve`o

we`re off to crapenwray shortly
as my daughters finishing off her open water course


lucky arn`t i

Originally Posted by 232Bar

Just be sure to get yourself a 'Double Narcosis Chilli Burger' in the cafe.

Originally Posted by steve`o

went for the double chesse burger and cheesey chips

o and our terri has now passed her open water
so we will be looking for some easy shore dives when we get there

Originally Posted by Crazy Diamond

Thanks for that. We will buy our own then, but it will have to be when we get there now

Are you a dive master? Would really appreciate any info on Brisbane sites if you get a mo.

Cheers

Originally Posted by spottydog

Try and find yourself a friendly UK place that will ship via the postal system to you in Oz as it will be a lot cheaper. You also won't need to pay VAT as you're outside the EU and I understand that Australia customs rarely charge import duty on items sent by post under $1000 (its only about $200 for courier stuff so avoid that if you can). This will probably work out still lots cheaper that buying it here as they charge a fortune.

Originally Posted by spottydog

We have Buddy BCD's with auto airs, Apex regs & Suunto Computers (although had Aladdin before these) and I would recommend all of them. I used to have avanti quattro fins but found they tired my legs so not have force fins (very much a case of love them or hate them).

Last weekend the water temperature in Sydney was 16C so either a good thick wetsuit or a drysuit may also be a worthwhile purchase (I was in a drysuit and I'm going to use a hood and possibly gloves next time and the thicker undersuit is definitely coming out, our few wetsuit divers were in at least 2 layers with hoods and gloves and were sdtill pretty cold lus drysuits here start at about $2500!). Make sure you buy fins that take booties and buy booties too if you don't go for a drysuit

For a computer I would ensure you get one with Nitrox and decompression capabilities so it will cover all your diving whatever level you take it to.

I woulds suggest don't buy a compass unless you're buying an electronic one which you can calibrate (Suunto do 2 computers with electronic compasses, the D9 and a cheaper non-titanium one, I've got the D9 and love it). If Robin Hood are at the dive show try and sneak a look at their full diveshow price list for computers, I got out D9's from them when they were just out for £500 when everyone else wanted closer to £700.

Definitely don't buy tanks, they will just turn into exensive doorstops, get them from Dive Imports in perth when you've arrived ($350 for 12l fabers inc delivery, cheapest we've found in Oz).

It's also worth buying little dive bits as they are expensive to here so go for knife/net cutters, spare fin/mask straps & o-rings, gloves, hood, DSMB & Reel (very useful), lead weights & belt (if you're shipping stuff across, bit heavy to fly), torch (the little PCa lite are excellent for a BC pocket and won't break the bank). If you're feeling really extravagant go for a digital camera & housing too.

When you get to Sydney if you fancy meeting a friendly dive club come down to Moretons on Sussex Street on a Wednesday evening where Sydney Sub Aqua Club meet for a few beers we're a BSAC club with expats from around the world along with a couple of Aussies and dive regularly.